Methods, computer program products and apparatus providing improved use of relays in wireless communication

Abstract

In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus ( 50 ) includes: means for determining ( 52 ) a source timing parameter for a source node ( 70 ) and a relay timing parameter for a relay node ( 60 ), wherein the relay node ( 60 ) is disposed between the source node ( 70 ) and the apparatus ( 50 ); first means for transmitting ( 56 ) the relay timing parameter to the relay node ( 60 ); and second means for transmitting ( 56 ) the source timing parameter and the relay timing parameter to the source node ( 70 ). In another exemplary embodiment, an apparatus ( 70 ) includes: first means for receiving ( 76 ) a first timing parameter; second means for receiving ( 76 ) a second timing parameter; first means for transmitting ( 76 ) a message to a first node ( 60 ) in accordance with the first timing parameter; and second means for transmitting ( 76 ) the message to a second node ( 50 ) in accordance with the first and second timing parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 determining, by a destination node, a source timing advance parameter between a source node and the destination node and a relay timing advance parameter between a relay node and the destination node, wherein the relay node is disposed between the source node and the destination node in a wireless communication system; 
 transmitting the determined relay timing advance parameter from the destination node to the relay node; and 
 transmitting the determined source timing advance parameter and the determined relay timing advance parameter from the destination node to the source node. 
 
     
     
       2. A method as in  claim 1 , where the relay node comprises a mobile station. 
     
     
       3. A method as in  claim 1 , where determining comprises: broadcasting, by the destination node, a broadcast message; receiving, by the destination node, a source reply message from the source node and a relay reply message from the relay node; calculating the source timing advance parameter based on a timing of the source reply message; and calculating the relay timing advance parameter based on a timing of the relay reply message. 
     
     
       4. A method as in  claim 1 , further comprising: transmitting the source timing advance parameter to the relay node. 
     
     
       5. A method as in  claim 1 , where the source timing advance parameter and the relay timing advance parameter are determined in order to enable communications transmitted by the source node and the relay node to arrive at the destination node substantially at a same time. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus comprising:
 a processor and a transmitter; 
 the processor configured determine a source timing advance parameter between a source node and the apparatus and a relay timing advance parameter between a relay node and the apparatus, wherein the relay node is disposed between the source node and the apparatus in a wireless communication system; 
 the transmitter configured to:
 transmit the determined relay timing advance parameter to the relay node; and 
 transmit the determined source timing advance parameter and the determined relay timing advance parameter to the source node. 
 
 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as in  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus further comprising
 a receiver, 
 the transmitter configured to broadcast a broadcast message; 
 the receiver configured to:
 receive a source reply message from the source node; and 
 receive a relay reply message from the relay node; 
 
 the processor configured to:
 calculate the source timing advance parameter based on a timing of the source reply message; and 
 calculate the relay timing advance parameter based on a timing of the relay reply message. 
 
 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as in  claim 6 , wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit the source timing advance parameter to the relay node. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as in  claim 6 , wherein the apparatus comprises a base station. 
     
     
       10. A method comprising:
 receiving, by a source node, a first timing advance parameter and a second timing advance parameter; 
 transmitting a message from the source node to a first node in accordance with the first timing advance parameter; and 
 transmitting the message from the source node to a second node in accordance with the first timing advance parameter and the second timing advance parameter. 
 
     
     
       11. A method as in  claim 10 , further comprising: receiving, by the source node, a broadcast message from the second node; and responding, by the source node, to the broadcast message by transmitting a response message to the second node. 
     
     
       12. A method as in  claim 11 , further comprising: in response to receiving the broadcast message from the second node, synchronizing, by the source node, a clock of the source node. 
     
     
       13. A method as in  claim 11 , where the broadcast message is received by the source node on a downlink synchronization channel. 
     
     
       14. A method as in  claim 10 , where the source node comprises a mobile station. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus comprising:
 a processor, a transmitter, a receiver, 
 the receiver configured to:
 receive a first timing advance parameter; and 
 receive a second timing advance parameter; 
 
 the transmitter configured to:
 transmit a message to a first node in accordance with the first timing advance parameter; and 
 transmit the message to a second node in accordance with the first timing advance parameter and the second timing advance parameter. 
 
 
     
     
       16. An apparatus as in  claim 15 ,
 the receiver configured to receive a broadcast message from the second node; 
 the transmitter configured to transmit a response message to the second node in response to receiving the broadcast message from the second node. 
 
     
     
       17. An apparatus as in  claim 16 ,
 the processor configured to synchronize a clock of the apparatus in response to receiving the broadcast message from the second node. 
 
     
     
       18. An apparatus as in  claim 16 ,
 the receiver configured to receive the broadcast message on a downlink synchronization channel. 
 
     
     
       19. An apparatus as in  claim 15 , where the apparatus comprises a mobile station.